9 Miles to go.

I made my marathon cookies over the weekend. They didn’t come out as well as I wanted. One batch got a little overdone and the next batch stuck to the sheet. I think it was the caramel from the turtles. Hopefully they taste okay. I left them with my sister because I really can’t be trusted around cookies and I don’t want to eat them until I’ve crossed the finish line.

I feel like I’m going into this blind. Before my first half marathon, I had a very conservative time goal. Then, a month before the race, I found myself living with my sister in a very hilly part of the city. Every single run was hilly. I planned on 11 minute miles. I ran 9:36 minute miles.

I spent all of last year racing and running and challenging myself. I had two marathons on the calendar, San Francisco and NYC. I wanted to finish SF and I wanted to break 4 hours in NY.

Then I got injured.

I missed San Fran. I missed so many races before I could start running again. I had to come back conservatively. My main goal was to add mileage and not get hurt. I ran a few races but I didn’t race any of them. I realized that I had to put my goal on the shelf for this race. Four hours is beyond my reach (for now). But what is within my reach? I honestly don’t know.

I have a new A goal but I’m not sure it’s realistic. My B goal seems too easy. I’m just not sure how to approach this. It’s a bit disorienting for me. I’m a planner. I usually plan, calculate, recalculate, test, retest, adjust plans, and so on.

This week, I keep catching myself of the verge of stupidity. Like almost skipping my ice bath on Sunday because I only ran 10 miles. I had to stop and think it out: I’ve hopped in an ice bath every single Sunday, after every single long run. Should I change that one week out from the race? No.

Also, I’ve been obsessing about my socks. Why? I have no idea. Suddenly the socks I’ve worn all along just don’t seem right. I caught myself before I bought new socks to wear for the marathon. I’ve worn the same kind of socks for all of my runs. Should I change them for marathon morning? No.

Those are just two examples but that’s pretty much my brain right now.

I just have to get through the next few days without doing anything dumb. That should be doable, right?

If you are having trouble coming up with a time goal, maybe try a goal that is a little different. To negative split, to keep all your miles between x and x range, etc. Maybe go without a watch altogether??

If you are having trouble coming up with a time goal, maybe try a goal that is a little different. To negative split, to keep all your miles between x and x range, etc. Maybe go without a watch altogether??

+1 Negative split....even when it's not a PR, I ALWAYS feel good about a marathon when I negative split. Something about feeling awesome at mile 23 when everyone else wants to die that just fuels your fire. The crowds will pick up on it and cheer you on more. Good luck!

Just think of it as just another long run with a lot of crowd support! and you don't have to carry your own water. Seriously, takes off a lot of the pressure. And when you get to 20, you tell yourself just 6 more... mind tricks, whatever takes off the pressure

you're going to do great. i had a hard time knowing what my goal time for my past marathon should be, and I think that had I started a bit more conservatively I might have done better, but then again who even knows? Just try not to worry too much, have fun and I guess try and start at a comfortable pace!

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